National Children's Dental Health Month

February is National Children's Dental Health Month! This is a great time to take a moment to learn about good oral home care so that our kids will have the best smile they can have.

Parents often have questions about how to care for their children's teeth. When is the best time to start brushing? What toothpaste should be used? What about fluoride? When should my child be able to brush on their own?

Early Dental Care

Oral home care begins before your child's first tooth has even surfaced. Dampening a soft cloth or piece of gauze and wiping plaque bacteria from the gums can greatly reduce teething pain. Once teeth begin to erupt, a finger brush or small baby's brush may be used for brushing twice a day. Daily flossing is important as well so that areas not reached with a toothbrush can be cleaned to help prevent tooth decay. Toothpastes containing fluoride should be avoided until a child is able to not swallow the toothpaste.

Older children can start helping to brush themselves, but need parental guidance. It takes quite some time for children to develop the physical ability necessary to perform proper home care. This is especially true with flossing.

Teaching Children How To Brush & Floss

Parents can teach their children how to care for their teeth, so that they can learn great oral hygiene habits to last them a lifetime!

How to Brush

Angle the toothbrush about 45 degrees towards the gums of the upper and lower teeth.

Move the toothbrush in a back-and-forth motion, on both the outside and inside of the teeth. After this, run the toothbrush through in a circular motion.

Brush along the tongue to clean off bacteria and freshen breath.

How to Floss

Whenever children have developed teeth that are next to each other, they should begin flossing.
Hold the ploss between the thumb and index finger, wrapping it around each to get a strong hold.

Be careful with the amount of pressure you apply if you’re flossing your chid’s teeth.

Weave the floss in between each tooth, moving in a u-shape to scrape away the debris in the gums and along the tooth’s surface.

Use a new section of floss between each area, to prevent spreading food and plaque particles in the mouth.

With proper guidance and care, our children will grow up with beautiful, healthy smiles!

Contact Your Local Family Dentist Today

At the office of Dr. Robert Burks, we love seeing our patients show off their beautiful smiles! We pride ourselves on offering attentive, personalized care to each person that walks through our doors, while providing some of the best dental care available. If you have any questions about National Children’s Dental Health Month, our services, or anything else, feel free to contact our office at (407) 327-2030. We look forward to meet you and your smiling little ones soon!